Hello everyone, this is Kudarajin! Bow down and kow-tow to me, plebeians! *Cough* Ehem. Ignore that please.
Some of you may know me already from my site for translating stuff.
Wha? You don’t? Really? Oh……
Anyhow! I joined Oniichanyamete to translate ‘At the Northern Fort’! I’m picking up from chapter 6 (Frolicking), where Estelion left it. Already posted some too, courtesy of Estelion-sama. I have no regular schedule for that series (yet) actually maybe never will set one but anyway I hope you enjoy it!
This is my first time working with someone else for my translations, and I am immensely grateful to our Holy Sheeprabbit Estelion-sama for helping out with my crappy engrish translations. Not sure how well I’ll do, but please take care of me.
Also, fellow OCY members call me ‘Christina’, so you can call me that. It might actually be encouraged that you do so.
So, let’s do this! 4649! See you later!
*Showers people with fake gold coins*
*Disappears in a puff of smoke*
“It’s quite nice. The wind is a bit salty, but it feels good.”
The salty breeze was strong enough to be smelt from the bed of the carriage. It was the characteristic smell of a coastal region.
The view of the townscape from the carriage gave off the feel of a foreign port town. The slightly old-fashioned look of the buildings also let off a pleasant atmosphere. There’s nothing to criticize about it as a tourist spot.
… It would have been a good idea to have mentioned something about the food situation to loligramps.
While it was charming to have a quiet place where I could sleep for as long as I wanted, if I had stayed there, I would have starved.
Because a person happened to be passing by, I ended up leaving my birthplace… but this new area looked pretty nice. I wanted to quickly have a nap.
“Well then, I’m fine here.”
“Ah… W-Wait a second Arge-san.”
As I started to step off of the carriage, Zeno calls out to me.
To be blunt, the name Arge that I have gotten used to being called over the past few days was really half-assedly picked.
My full name is Argento Vampear. Argento is the Italian word for silver and Vampear is the French word for vampire.
(TL: I chose to write ‘vampire’ as ‘vampear’ to distinguish it from the english word. It’s the usual trouble with Japanese being able to use foreign words for everything. Take 吸血鬼 and ヴァンパイア as an example, although it’s written ヴァンピール in this novel. Seriously, I’m going to shoot someone one of these days over katakana…)
I could have used the name from my past life, but Kuon Ginji is definitely a guy’s name. I may have felt like a guy inside, but I was physically a girl, so I ended up picking a name that sounded feminine.
“What?”
“Please take this and this.”
Zeno-kun searched the inside of carriage and handed me a black hooded cape and leather bag. When I took the bag, it made a jingling sound. It’s pretty heavy, is there gold inside?
“There might only be a little, but please use it as funds for your travels.”
“Ah, so this is money… Is this ok, even though you’re a merchant?”
I wasn’t thinking about that problem at all, so the truth is, I was super thankful for the cash… however, for a merchant, money is supposed to be more important than anything else. Was it really okay for him to so readily give this to someone with such a suspicious background?
“It’s because you saved my life. Also, while you’re in town, please try to keep the hood on. Arge-san stands out a lot, so this way it should stop… you know, stop you from being hit on.”
Ah, that does sound like a pain.
From what I can tell, it isn’t an exaggeration to call the current me’s appearance an unrivaled beautiful girl.
Judging from the Terrier Bandits’ and Zeno-kun’s reactions, my evaluation didn’t seem to be wrong. For this reason, it might end up being important to cover my face. I have no interest in men. If they were to feed and care for me, it’s a different story though.
… Zeno-kun seemed like the diligent type.
If I were to marry a person like this, helping out with his business seems tiresome.
To make matters worse, he’s a peddler, Meaning, unless he retires, there will never be a chance to settle down. As a target to leech off of, he’s not perfect. This sucks.
Also, the uncomfortableness of the carriage’s luggage area lost him some points as well.
Even if you docked these points, there’s no mistaking Zeno-kun is a good person. He had even done all of this for me.
“Uun… I feel kinda bad after all this.”
“It’s fine. Even for me, I feel kinda bad after receiving a horse.”
No, that’s just something you picked up from the Terrier Bandits.
“I still can’t casually accept this. I can’t repay you with anything right now though… how about next time we meet?”
“Next time?”
“Yes. If we meet again and Zeno-kun is in trouble, please let me save you.”
In exchange for saving his life, the thing I requested of him was to feed me.
I had already received my reward. That’s why I considered him taking me this far, clothing me, and giving me money a separate case from that deal.
It might have felt natural to Zeno-kun, but me being unable to pay back his goodwill makes me feel sick.
I might be extremely lazy, but I’m the type to properly settle my debts.
Even if I thought that, all I have is my body. Even the clothes I am wearing don’t belong to me.
The only thing I can pay with right now is a verbal promise.
Of course, a verbal promise is still a promise. If we were to ever meet again, if I had something to pay him with, I would gladly pay the price. It’s this type of feeling behind this promise.
After making this promise, it’s probably best to go our separate ways for now.
“… If you put it that way, I understand.”
“Well then, I’ll be off. Thank you so much. Please hire proper bodyguards from now on.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Stay healthy, Arge-san!”
I properly pulled down the hood and jumped off the carriage.
With some reluctance, I walked quickly and disappeared into the crowd without looking back.
Well then, first things first…
“… Let’s get some lunch.”
Naps are nice and all, but I just received money, so let’s gratefully use it. Money is only valuable when used after all.
Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ.
Thank you for your consideration, guys!
In celebration of our new God Emperor!
Also, I forgot to recommend them last time but!
Go Gently by Shana the Short (SB) A rather funny alternate universe story about this completely oblivious Taylor who is friends with Emma, Sophia, and “Mr. Eikawa”.
Queen of the Swarm by Vherstinae (SB) A pretty good Starcraft/Worm crossover where Taylor develops a Crawler-like ‘Kerrigan’ physiology.
The day of the excursion was met with clear weather. I departed after a good meal.
I’ve had a history of suffering on these excursions but this year I was a little different. I thought of a way to walk without tiring!
In the past I always took large strides in order to make more progress. But the trick in mountain climbing is to take small steps!
Why didn’t anybody teach me this earlier! Just how much unnecessary suffering did I go through…
Besides that, I also brought out my old stepper machine to train. Say goodbye to the exhausted Reika!
Well, to cut to the chase I ended up in the lagging groups again, but maybe because it was an easier hike this year, I had more fun than expected. I want to believe that it was my stepper training and strategy at work.
If only things were this easy every year. Being the kind girl that I am, I told all my fellow slowpokes about my small steps tactic.
But you know, there have always been some kids that were worse than me, you know? It’s just that they all throw in the towel early and ride away in a car. Last time they were sitting at the base of the mountain drinking tea or something. Isn’t that kind of unfair?
I’d want to do that too! But being the coward that I am, I never could find the timing to quit, so I was stuck with climbing to the end. And since the exercise was oddly good for my circulation I wasn’t hit by a wave of anaemia the one time it could have made itself useful.
Anyway, there were plenty of kids who retired early this time too, riding away gracefully in their car. Well, some of those were members of my group though. For example, my fellow Pivoine member Haginokouji Fuyuko-sama, whose face would probably look good with those round eyebrows that the ancient Heian nobility wore.
A style that was popular in the Heian era amongst nobility.
Fuyuko-sama is attached to my group because it’s the biggest faction, but she’s a bit different to everyone else. Maybe it’s because of her face, but it kinda feels like she lives in another world…
Sakura-chan might be “Japanese style” but this girl is plain “ancient Japanese”. She’d probably look more natural in a juunihitoe than western clothes.
The juunihitoe (十二単) is an extremely elegant and highly complex kimono that was only worn by court-ladies in Japan. Literally translated, it means “twelve-layer robe”. The juunihitoe started to appear around the 10th century during the Heian Era. Today, the juunihitoe can only be seen in museums, movies, costume demonstrations, tourist attractions or at certain festivals.
“Look, Reika-sama. We can see the ocean.”
“Truly. How beautiful.”
Yes, I have enough energy to speak this year. It’s wonderful. I wish I had this much energy every year.
Or rather, if we just didn’t climb a mountain each time I wouldn’t have this problem to begin with. We went to Kamakura this year, so we should have just stuck to money-washing,
Zeniarai Benten Shrine (銭洗弁天) is a popular shrine in western Kamakura, which people visit to wash their money (zeniarai means “coin washing”). It is said that money washed in the shrine’s spring, will double.
warabimochi,
Warabimochi (蕨餅, warabi-mochi) is a jelly-like confection made from bracken starch and covered or dipped in kinako (sweet toasted soybean flour). It differs from true mochi made from glutinous rice.
or just eating soft custard pudding.
Kamakura ‘nama(uncooked) pudding’
I hope I have somebody to go sightseeing with, this time.
*
When we arrived back at the hotel after the hike I went and changed clothes.
Aah, I can finally get out of this track jacket. They don’t suit me. If possible I’d like to avoid being seen in them outside.
I fixed up my appearance before heading to the hotel for lunch when I found the classes arranged around tables by class. The main course was seafood. All the exercise really gets your appetite up~
Oh! This Kamakura vegetable soup is pretty good!
But when I looked around, the Externals were ignoring the food in favour of huddling their heads together. I see. They still have their entertainment to do, so I suppose it’s no time to be eating. They really have it tough.
Around the time the food was finished, Class 1 began their skit.
Unsurprisingly it was a choir but they had a leader whose voice was trembling a bit. Can’t blame them though. I’m just thanking my lucky stars that I’m not an External…
After that there were concerts and skits too. My class was doing their best singing, with a piano and some people on the tambourines too. I don’t think I’m biased in saying that their practice paid off.
In the class with the concert there was this one kid whipping his hair back and forth as he played the violin, but I have to wonder if he moved into the right school.
Finally, it was Wakaba-chan’s turn.
In the spirit of being in Kamakura, her class performed the “Benten and the Five-Headed Dragon”. According to the story, in the past there was a terrifying five-headed dragon that lived in the Kamakura lake who caused natural disasters, demanded children as sacrifices, and just made life for the villagers hell. But then one day a heavenly nymph descended from the heavens who was so beautiful that the dragon proposed to her, but she rejected him and told him that she couldn’t marry someone wicked, so he reformed and became a good dragon.
Benten is believed to have created Enoshima before subduing a five-headed dragon that had been terrorizing the area.
The guy playing the dragon was dressed in a mask and black cloth while the girl playing Benten seemed to be shrouded in white cloth. The other roles included the narrator, the villagers and stuff too. Wakaba-chan was holding a stick attached to blue cloth and was pretending to be the ocean.
“ZAZAAAN~ ZAZAAAN~” she yelled as she waved her stick, enthusiastically playing her part.
…Umm, Wakaba-chan, you’re great, you’re really shining up there. Trying your very best to wave the stick even when nobody is really watching you. Even though sometimes you got so tired that you had to do it with one arm, you gave your all to the role until the end. Well done.
It couldn’t be that she’s being picked on, right? Or so I wondered for a moment, but there was a kid playing the part of Enoshima island so I guess I was just being paranoid. The part of the ocean is still better than being an island, right?
When my class’ act was done, they came over to thank Satomi-kun and I.
“Thank you so much for all your help.”
“Thank you very much, Reika-sama.”
All I really did was get them that music room, but Satomi-kun practised with them and gave them the advice including the idea about borrowing the maracas and tambourines too. He really is great at taking care of people.
“You performed very well. It appears that your practised paid off,” I said.
They all looked really happy. It looks like they became closer through all this. But it’s not good to only stick to themselves, so hopefully they’ll get close to the others too.
The class that won the prize for best sideshow this year was Wakaba-chan’s class.
The prize were enough tickets for free meals at the cafeteria for all of them. Wakaba-chan’s eyes were shining. The food at our school is quite expensive so I suppose she didn’t have much chance to try it. Good for her. I wish I could give her recommendations.
*
After that whole affair, I became closer to this External girl called Ikoma-san.
Friend GET?
But I’m a bit troubled because she looks at me with these eyes that seem oddly worshipping. I’ll bet she has some weird image of me in her head.
Ikoma-san who always looks at me with these sparkling eyes filled with respect… I’m too cowardly to disappoint her, so I vowed to myself to keep up the act around her.
Ikoma-san, if you like my hairstyle so much, how about you curl your hair too?
Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ.
Thank you for your consideration, guys!
There was meant to be a whole message and Worm fanfiction recommendation list here but when I published after changing the link from https://oniichanyamete.wordpress.com/2016/11/07/reika-sama-077-3/ everything was blank and scumbag wordpress had no fucken drafts, so fuck. I’ll edit it in now I guess…
EDIT: Okay, fuck. So! Like I was saying in my earlier draft, I’m sorry for the long absence. The last time I released a chapter was August 12th, so a bit under 3 months ago.
EDITEDIT: Why does wordpress keep fucking blanking everything!?
Fuck!
EDITEDITEDIT: Hopefully third time is the charm. So! August 12th. I’m sorry for my absence. I was really busy with my masters degree and was busy until roughly the 1st of November. Yes, I am aware that it is now the 7th of November. Some issues with Warframe and Worm fanfiction came up, okay? Namely that I wanted to do those more than translate.
Speaking of Worm fanfiction though, if you haven’t read Worm, go read it now. NOW! If you have read it, here are some fanfiction recommendations I’d like to make! The formatting and reviews are shitter because this is the second time I’m doing this, so please bear with me.
Constellations by Unwelcome Storm. (SB)(SV) A light-hearted, funny, adorable, and very enjoyable crossover with Ōkami.
Twinnings by Harbin (SB)(SV) Taylor with Coil powers. Note that the stories on SB and SV diverge at chapter 1.5 and I’d recommend you read both. The SpaceBattles version first. Fun stuff.
Starry Eyes by helnae (SV) A completely adorable alternate power fanfiction where Taylor cuts off her face and makes friends with a shoggoth and nightgaunt.
Heredity by BeaconHill (SB)(SV) A fun alternate universe fanfiction where Taylor moves to Arcadia and somehow ends up teaming up with Amy.
Intrepid by Cerulean (SB)(SV) An alternate universe (and thus power) fanfiction that follows four different protagonists: Madison, Emma, Sophia and Taylor. Four different teams with one of them each. Non-Mary Sue-ish and really quite an engaging story.
As for some longer stories, we have Cenotaphandsequels which read… a lot like the original Worm I suppose, Queen of Blood which is nowhere near as edgy as you’d expect from a name like that, A Cloudy Path which is great but somehow even more emotionally draining to read than the original Worm, Atonement which is cheesy and Mary Sue-ish but still somehow pretty good and really fun, Magical Girl Lyrical Taylor which is… um… well I’d definitely recommend it…, and finally Amelia which is a dark fixfic which was pretty okay.
This year’s excursion was to Kamakura.
A city! It’s finally a city! Goodbye, mountain climbing! Or so I thought until I heard that, yep, we were going to be hiking. To think that even Kamakura had hiking…
But well, I guess I was already kinda prepared for that. The real issue was the lunch.
After spending the whole gruelling morning on hiking, next was returning to the reserved hotel banquet hall to have lunch together as a whole grade. I was told that we were going to have seafood. Seafood is great stuff.
The problem comes after. Apparently it’s Zui’ran tradition to have the External Students of each class gather together to prepare some kind of skit for the lunch. Like a baptism of sorts for them.
But a skit! And in front of three-hundred odd people! It’s a total punishment game.
When the Externals in my class heard about it, all of them went deathly pale. Not like I don’t understand though.
After asking around a bit, apparently the previous years were pretty much all choirs and concerts, with the occasional dance or magic trick. A few oddballs apparently banded together to recite Japanese waka poetry or haikus, too.
That day, whenever we had spare time, the Externals would group together and plan for the lunch skit. Mn, for things like this you have to decide what to do first after all.
“Can’t we just sing something?”
“But whatever would we sing? And would it be possible to sing loudly enough for a large hall such as this?”
“But that makes it even harder to see a skit.”
Hmm~ Looks like they’re having trouble.
Satomi-kun and I called out to them.
“How goes it? Have you yet agreed upon anything?”
They all shook their heads at me with troubled expressions.
“Apparently most people just sing or perform on instruments,” I added.
“But it’d be difficult to bring instruments…”
“I believe it quite possible to have them loan you at least a piano or a guitar. And the hall is furnished with a screen so with a microphone small magic tricks or juggling should be possible.”
“Really!?”
Looks like they had more options now.
“By the way, what’s the most popular thing for us to do?”
“From what I hear, some students with particular confidence in their singing voices decided to sing Nessun Dorma. Apparently they were met with quite an applause, and were called the Three Tenors of Zui’ran or somesuch. They were so popular in fact that the popularity of doing mini operas sky-rocketed in the following years, or so the story goes.”
“Opera…”
“The Three Tenors…? But if there were only three singers, what was everybody else doing?”
“Lighting and sound, it seems.”
“Having it focused around one person might not be a bad idea.”
“However, pushing the pressure onto a single classmate is not ideal, so generally things of more equal participation are expected. The exceptions are only when somebody is particularly talented at something.”
“Talent…”
They looked at each other. Unfortunately none of them seemed to be superstars of any sort. They all looked a little crestfallen.
“Dances are popular too but it kinda depends on how tired each class is after the hike,” advised Satomi-kun.
Yeah~ If it were me I’d be half dead after all the walking.
“But there’s been all kinds of dances too. Stuff from proper dances, to waltzing to piano music or something.”
“I’ve never waltzed before.”
“Me neither… Outside of folk dancing at school, I’ve never really…”
Folk dancing, huh. If somebody did like, an Oklahoma Mixer, I’d probably end up laughing.
Ah, maybe a Mayim Mayim would be more exciting?
It turned out to be a unanimous vote against folk dancing. After long deliberation, they decided on the safe option of choir singing.
*
They immediately went to practice after school but the kids from the other classes were thinking the same thing obviously, so it was quite a scramble for the piano. After all, whether for choir or concert performances, the piano is a key part, right?
The music rooms in the high school section weren’t enough so I went and negotiated with the school. In the end I got permission for them to use the middle school ones as well.
“You’re amazing. You got us permission to use the middle school rooms? Umm, I guess you used your power as a Pivoine, right?” asked a girl hesitantly.
Hmmm. I can’t really say. When I went and talked to the teacher I was just like,
“Say, since you made me take up the class rep position and all, just lending me a room or two is nothing, riight?”
so I’m pretty sure I wasn’t demanding anything. Mn. That sounds right. It was just a request.
“I should think it was because the school cooperates with its students,” I smiled.
Please don’t look at me so suspiciously.
Anyway, I was pushing for them to sing gospel music but they were like “We don’t have enough people for that…” and refused. Hm, do you really need that many people? I mean, the Three Tenors of Zui’ran managed, so can’t you get loud enough if you try? I was so sure it’d be popular too.
In the end they chose something easy. Well, it’s a song I quite like anyway, so it’s all good I guess.
After entrusting the key to the music rooms to the External students, I headed for the Pivoine. Just to be safe, I’ll check up on the Externals once more before I go home later.
On the way, I bumped into Katsuragi Boy in the hallway.
“Ah! Why the hell are you in the middle school!”
I checked the hallway in all directions. Hmm~ Nobody seems to be here. Alright.
“OWWW!”
I sentenced the rude little junior to a facial noogie.
I didn’t hold back at all so I’m sure it hurt quite a bit. Since we were the same height though, he pulled me off rather easily.
“What the fuck are you doing, violent woman!?”
“Is that how you address a senior? My, such a dullard, you poor thing. I henceforth name you Birdboy. The bird-brained Birdboy.”
“Fuck you!”
“My, are you not satisfied? Then go learn some manners and I shall promote you back to a full human once more. Well then, gokigen’yoh, Birdboy-kun.”
I walked away with a HO HO HO! when I heard the idiot call out,
“A bitch like you will never be worthy of Enjou-san!”
So of course I headed right back.
“W-What are you doing?”
Since he had his guard high, I kicked him in the shin.
“OWWWWW!!”
Hurt, didn’t it. Even the legendary warrior monk Benkei would cry from a shin kick.
“Truuly such a cretinous bird. Worry not. I have no feelings towards Enjou-sama at all. I will not get in the way of your love for him. Society still has much progress to be made towards completely understanding homosexuality, but there is no harm in fantasising as you please. Do as you deign appropriate.”
“Wha-, I’m not-”
OHOHOHOHOHO, I can’t heaar youuu~
With that, I left my mentally challenged kouhai behind.
*
The Externals in each class continued to practice each day.
One time in the hallway, I caught sight of Wakaba-chan running around covered in some weird cloth, but, eh, don’t tell me it’s really some dress-up skit!?
“One time in the hallway, I caught sight of Wakaba-chan running around covered in some weird cloth, but, eh, don’t tell me it’s really some dress-up skit!?”
Kasou Taishou: Kasou Taishou is a semi-annual show on NTV in which various amateur groups perform short skits, which are rated by a panel of judges. Especially in recent years, many of the skits have revolved around clever methods of “faking” cinematic special effects on a live stage. The show is hosted by Kinichi Hagimoto and Shingo Katori. Worldwide, the most famous of these skits, and among the most successful at “fake special effects” was a skit which is widely known as “Matrix ping pong”.
Said the unrivaled beauty as she stuffed her cheeks full of jerky.
For whatever reason, I was saved by this girl and now the two of us are eating lunch together.
… I wonder, what exactly is this child.
The route I was assaulted on is a shortcut well known amongst peddlers. The route is an ancient and unused highway. All that’s nearby is a collapsed country.
The merchant’s guild would like to restore it; however, between the bandits and monsters, repairs aren’t proceeding as planned. Because of this, the path is rugged and casualties from attacks are high.
I was in a rush so I had no choice but to take this path… And just as I thought, I was attacked. If this girl hadn’t been passing through, I would surely be dead.
I knew a little magic and believed it to be enough, but those three were skilled to the point that my only option was to flee. Even so, those three were sent flying with a kick as if they were children. This girl… Exactly what is she? Her age seems to be around 13-14…
“Thank you, to even go so far as to lend me your clothes.”
“I-It’s fine. It’s good that the size fits you well.”
The clothes are one of my products, a set of mage clothing. The girl said she had no clothes, so I had given her a set.
It’s true that she’s my savior, but without them, I’m troubled about where to look.
… It was quite the nice physique.
Due to my nature as a merchant, I’ve travelled across many countries and I had met many beauties. Occasionally, I had even “bought” some of them.
I believed that I had met many beautiful women; however, this girl in front of my very eyes… To give my honest impression, there was nothing that could be compared.
Out of all the women I had seen, she possessed the most exquisite face of them all. I had never considered myself a lolicon, but it may be time for me to reevaluate that belief.
And so, as we ate our meal, I came to find her act of licking the salt and oil off of her hands as attractive. Despite that, I found her to be quite androgynous, or maybe it would be better to put it as unladylike or open… That is also…
“…? Is there something wrong?”
“No, nothing of concern.”
If I stare too long,I feel I’ll drown in those scarlet eyes. I forced my gaze away; however, it felt rude, so I shifted my gaze to her forehead.
Even though our eyes don’t meet, it is a line of sight that gives the impression of “He is looking at my face.”
“By the way, where is this carriage headed?”
“It is headed for a town called Alrescha”
“Shiwakucha?” (Crumpled)
“It’s Alrescha”
“… Does that place have a stable climate, delicious food, and good public order?”
“If you’re just talking about this country, it’s on the better side in my opinion.”
It is a town on the coast, so while the breeze is salty, it is pleasant all year round.
Being on the coast has caused trade to prosper and the seafood is always fresh. The town is also an important region to the country, so public order is well-maintained. If I had to fault something, it would be that the lord of the region is a womanizer.
When I explained all this to her, the silver-haired girl thought for a little before she replied and said, “…Sashimi sounds good. If it is fine with you, could you give me a lift there.”
“Sure, with pleasure.”
I couldn’t turn down my savior, even if I wanted to.
On top that, to be able to travel with such a beautiful girl, it would make more sense for me to ask her to accompany me.
“By the way, I didn’t quite catch your name. My name is Zeno, Zeno Kotobuki.”
“Ah… Oh yeah, a name…”
“…? Is something wrong?”
Did I ask a strange question?
The girl ruffled her beautiful silver hair while making a troubled face.
… Is there some reason why she can’t reveal her name to me?
Being in this place without any clothing, it’s hard to call that natural.
I won’t pretend to know what’s going on, but I’m sure there must be a good reason for all this.
To not be able to immediately state her name, there must be a troubling reason behind it.
I don’t know anything about the other party’s background. This means there’s a large amount of uncertainty, a major burden for any merchant. Disregarding the looks, I can’t get a read on what’s inside.
… But she’s my savior.
A merchant is someone who always remains cool, yet never forgets courtesy.
The other party protected my most valuable asset, my life. She even saved my cargo.
Before even going into profit, she’s my greatest benefactor. If she doesn’t want to talk about it, it’s fine not to ask. Let’s end the discussion here.
“Um…”
“Argento Vampear.”
“Ha?”
“It’s long, so just call me Arge.”
“… I understand.”
Judging from the flow of the conversation, it’s easy to imagine the name she just told me is false.
Even so, I silently accepted it.
What’s important is that the girl in front of me, my savior, struggled to answer my question, even though it must have been difficult for her. Even if it is not the truth, I only have the right to accept it.
In this way, my mysterious savior and I spent several days together until we arrived at the town of Alrescha.
After this, my path and hers would cross multiple times. For our fates to be drawn together in this way, I had no way of knowing it at the time.
Author: I have been trying to add more spaces between lines since the previous chapter.
“Please wait a moment!” the lady at the reception desk called out to me just as I was turning to head back, “I have yet to return your guild card.”
… I had completely completely forgot. All that was on my mind was the sweet nighttime I would be having with Nellie.
“Following the neutralization of the aforementioned scale vipers, you have secured enough points to proceed directly to D-rank. Congratulations.”
“Eh? I jumped two ranks in one go? That’s a thing?”
“Indeed. Normally, to defeat even a single scale viper would necessitate a party of C-rank or greater… a party such as Govack-sama’s for example. To have accomplished that single-handedly, and neutralizing five no less… On the contrary, it would be more difficult to keep you at F-rank.”
“Think about it this way,” Govack interjected, “if anyone were to hear that you were F-ranker, what would that mean for us? We’d just be an embarrassment and have looked like we tried to steal a rookie’s job no… Accepting your promotion in earnest would be for the best, don’t you think?”
Ah, I see… there’s certainly some weight to that. “Understood. I’ll accept it graciously.”
“Also, you can take requests one rank above or two ranks below your current rank, Shino-dono. Since you’re rank D currently, you may accept requests from ranks C to F.”
“Thank you for letting me know.”
The receptionist is glaring at you, Govack. Stealing her job.
“Well, I’ll leave any questions if I have any for tomorrow when I’m looking to take on any jobs… For now, I’d just like have a bath and take it easy.”
“Mm? A bath you say? An inn with a bathhouse… They’re all a tad self-important. But you could try the one around…”
Govack’s party headed to their lodgings under the Guild’s direct management. Parting with them, I headed to one of the so-called ‘self-important’ inns he recommended with a Nellie in tow.
“What do you mean we can’t enter the bathhouse?” I pressed the employee who clearly had moved to block the entrance upon laying eyes on Nellie.
“Uhh, that is to say… some customers may worry about the cleanliness of the facility should they learn that they’re together with slave.”
“Hou… You trying to imply that my Nellie is dirty?”
“N-n-no, it’s just… ”
Frankly, nevermind disease, feeding her some panacea had even eradicated all trace of age, putting the state of her clothes aside. To not even be able to appreciate such perfection?
“Uh, uhm, Shino-sama, if it’s just me, then I do not mind…”
“I’ll have none of it. Even if I have to do it myself by my very own hands, I’ll have you sparkling from your nails to the tips of your fur!”
“I-If, if that’s the case… how about a compromise?”
“Hmm?”
“The price may be on the higher end, but perhaps consider a suite… Rather than the public baths, they come with a bathtub comes attached.”
A bath for just the two of us. In a place no one can interrupt us.
“Well there’s no helping it then. I’ll take the it.”
There was no reason to hesitate.
“Funfu~n♪” I hummed as I brushed Nellie’s hair. “Despite not being fed properly, your hair is still so glossy… And done. Ahh, so lovely.”
At the end of a dreamy bathtime, we sat in front of the bronze mirror1 in the dressing room, and I began playing with Nellie’s hair.
It seemed Nellie was the type to look thinner with in clothes on. As unassumingly short as as she seemed… other places were certainly bursting full of life, somehow hidden subtly yet seemingly about to overflow.
A single night for 500 kuramu, and I’d already got my money’s worth!
“Tha-thank you very much. But! Shino-sama, you are the one who is beautiful…”
I giggled and said, “Thank you.” Those definitely weren’t words of flatter from a servant, Nellie.
For the first time since coming into this world, I had yet to see myself in a mirror. Despite there still being traces of my former self, I seemed to have taken quite the turn towards beauty.
This was likely another example of “Kagura Shino,” my in-game character having influence on the real me.
“They should be just about done preparing our meal. Shall we head over to eat?”
“Yes.”
This was to be my first proper meal since arriving in this world. I was really looking forward to it.
“What is the meaning of this?”
They definitely screamed expensive. Extravagant dish after dish of impossible quantities that lined the table… were all my portion.
Nellie’s portion lay on a tray beneath the table: half-eaten bread, soup, and grilled fish.
Clearly leftover scraps. And not even a spoon or fork in sight… Was she meant to eat with her bare hands?
But above all else, was Nellie suppose to sit on this cold hard floor?
“I can’t believe it,” said Nellie, seemingly deeply moved by this reception. “White bread… and even fish.“
Just what kind terrible conditions had she been living in thus far.
“Nellie, you needn’t sit on the cold floor. Let’s eat together at the table, okay?”
“I-I’m not worthy… For a slave to eat at the same table as her master, I couldn’t possibly.”
“Hmm, really now… No matter what?”
“Y-yes.”
“… Then in that case.”
I opened my inventory and selected tatami mat.2 It was one of the in-game items that allowed the player to customize their personal residence should they own one.
“Choose target location, place six mats… also add a tea table, place one… zabutons3
for sitting too, place two.” And in a flash, the simple but familiar six-tatami floor room covered stone-cold floor.
“Eh? Where… Where did all of this come from?”
“Mmm, I’ll tell you after the meal alright?”
I browsed through my inventory again and then took out some food. Sengoku Online had all the local specialties found throughout Japan registered as items so there was a wealth of options.
“Tsukimi udon, hegi soba, bamboo-leaf-wrapped dango, red bean mochi, okesa persimmons, hamaguri sakamushi, oyaki, houtou, chan chan yaki, nankou ume rice balls, and chicken mizutaki.”4Taking one out after another, I arranged them on the tea table.
“… They’re all dishes I’ve never seen before. Are these from your country, Shino-sama…?”
“That’s right. Now, let’s eat together.”
“Eh, b-but-”
“Where I live, we sit on the floor on these tatami mats all the time. During meals too of course.”
After some fussing, Nellie finally began eating. Extremely timidly at first but steadily, she grew faster and faster… By the end of it, she was wolfing down the food, tears pouring.
It’s alright, Nellie, eat for as long as you like.
About an hour later, having finished eating, I decided to tell Nellie about our plans, “Our most highest-priority goal is… to buy land and to free you from slavery.”
“Shi… Shino-sama! H-have I overstep my bounds!? I… beg of you, p-please don’t throw me out.”
Aww, Nellie-san, don’t look up at me with those teary eyes. I, won’t be stop myself.
“Dummy, of course I won’t… It’s just that I can’t stand hearing the word ‘slave’ together with my Nellie. And besides, just who was it that declared with such passion, ‘Even if I’m no longer a slave, I still belong to Shino-sama’?”
“Ah, ahh…”
Her face flushed red. A silent Nellie, so adorable.
“So land… we’ll need some to build a house. As long as we have land, we can leave it to the Foundation system to take care of the actual construction.”
In Sengoku Online, the Foundation system was used to construct the player’s personal residence.
Though it required the player to have appropriate social rank in addition to a large sum of money, I of course had both.
Once we had found a suitably open and convenient location, all I had to do was select it in the system and we’d have a finished house in an instant.
“Hmm… If I wanted enough land for a noble’s mansion within the city, how much do you think it would cost?”
“I struggle to even imagine it… but If I were to guess, I think even 100,000 kuramu would be insufficient.”
“I see. Then 300,000 kuramu it is for some leeway… Let’s see, about… thirty gold to aim for.”
Since one C-rank monster was worth fifty silver, it wasn’t too out of reach.
“Then next would be freeing you from slavery, but how to do it? If I, as the master, tell you that you’re free to do go now, do you stop being a slave?”
“To dissolve my public social rank of slave, that would work. Similar to what you did earlier in the morning, touch this collar of compliance and declare me released under the name of God of Contracts, Promys-sama.”
“I see, I see. So something like, ‘God of Contracts, Promys, I implore thee. I, Shino Kagura, kunoichi and master of the slave Nellie, release her and desire no compensation.’ ”
Oho, her collar is glimmering. I had just blabbered stuff that seemed appropriate, but it looked like it was actually working…
“As of now, my public social rank has changed from a slave to a commoner… I cannot express my thanks enough, Shino-sama… But…”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Even if I’m no longer a slave, I, still want to serve you. This time of my own volition… if not as ‘slave’, would you take me in as an ‘attendant’?”
“If, that’s what you want Nellie…”
“Thank you so very much, Shino-sama…”
No. Thank you.
Thrown into alternative world, alone and weak—to already have someone care for me this deeply… What short of blessed could better describe me?
“Ah, about what you were saying earlier… What did you mean by your ‘public social rank?’ ”
“Uhm, in the Adventurer’s Guild, my class is still set to basic slave, and that hasn’t changed.”
“Ehh?”
“Well, it is not really that much of a drawback…”
“Unacceptable! We must take care of that too!”
“Even if you wish it so… a class change requires a class level of 15 or higher.”
“If you do change… what can you become?”
“If I recall correctly, I believe the options were maid or attendant—”
“Yes! That’s exactly it!”
At last, my long-awaited maid with cat ears!!
“Starting tomorrow, we’re off to earn some gold and speed level you… Operation ‘Power Leveling’ commence!”
“Y-yes!”
“By the way… would it be alright if I take a look at your status for reference? I’ll show you mine as well.”
“Yes, of course! Um… here you go.”
Out came a guild card as pure white as the very hair on her body:
*karma* Name: Nellie Savan Sex: Female Age: 14 Total Level: 1 Guild Rank: F Class Level: Basic Slave – 1
Status
HP
MP
Str
Vit
Dex
Spd
Int
Mid
*karma*
25
800
14
15
12
15
10
9
*karma* Titles
‘Celestial Maiden of Mana’
Special Skills Beastkin Body
Type Affinity
Shadow +10%
Light +10%
Blessings
Shino Kagura *karma*
“Mhm, aren’t you quite the catch! 800 MP, isn’t that really a lot?”
“A-about that, last I checked, I only had 10 MP… ‘Celestial Maiden of Mana’ title? Shadow affinity +10%… And, isn’t that your name under blessings!?”
“Ah, ahaha… I wonder why…”
Whoops, it was because… I had hugged her that I had passed on a large amount of mana. And fooling her this late was already of the question… I guess I should disclose a bit.
“So here’s mine.” Setting everything to revealed, I handed my card to Nellie.
“Le-… Level 85…? I thought the limit was 50… and your MP is N/A!? Under your status… You have three stats maxed at 18, and the rest are all above average… A-a 50% affinity, even heroes from legends didn’t have that!!”
I was left with no choice; I would have to explain coming from another world and serving as an mana intermediary for two worlds.
Even if it scares her away from me for good.
But after hearing everything, Nellie just smiled at me cheerily and said, “As expected of the one whom I serve.”
Before I realized it, I had shifted Nellie down onto the bed… and had plunged into those fluffy cat ears and mushy tail…
“Ah, ahh! Shino-sama… I-I’m… sensitive there…”
At some point, I noticed her breaths had turned to gasps and her voice had taken quite a turn to the seductive. But I decided to think about it later.
Author: Up next is about power leveling.
For online games, power levelling is when high-level players take low-level players to areas filled with higher level monsters to quickly raise their level. Probably
2Tatami are mats traditionally made of rice straw and are used as flooring in traditional Japanese-style rooms.
3Zabuton is a cushion that typically serves in place of a chair for sitting or kneeling usually on the floor.
4Rip.
Tsukimi udon or moon-viewing udon is a soup udon that pouches an egg.
Hegi soba is seaweed flavored soba.
Dango is a kind of dumpling made from rice. Mochi is similar but more of rice cake.
Hamaguri is a type of clam. Sakamushi is a type preparation that involves steaming with sake.
Oyaki is a dumpling made from fermented buckwheat.
Houtou is an udon miso soup originating from the Yamanashi Prefecture.
Chan chan yaki is a grilled fish and vegetable dish from Hokkaido where chan chan is the onomatopoeia likely for the tongs and spatulas, etc.
Nankou ume or nankou bai are Japanese apricots mainly from Wakayama Prefecture in the south.
(Chicken) Mizutaki is a type of hotpot that is accompanied with a Ponzu sauce and comes from Kyushu.
Hey there, here’s the next chapter, and it didn’t take 3 months this time! Much thanks to Toki for TLCing and editing this chapter!
Enjoy!
The next day. Lilia opened her eyes after being awoken by Alisa. To Alisa who greeted her with a `good morning` while lowering her head, Lilia also plastered a smile on her face.
“Yeah. Morning, Alisa. What a nice day.”
“Yes. The weather is absolutely wonderful today. Will you be having breakfast in here?”
At Alisa’s prompt, Lilia thought for a bit. Perhaps her brain wasn’t spinning properly due to not having fully woken up yet, but for now, she felt that she wanted to avoid the dining hall.
“Very well. Can I leave it to you?”
“Understood.”
With a respectful bow, she departed from the bedroom, and seeing off Alisa’s back with her eyes, Lilia took a small sigh.
—Morning, Lilia. It’s the first day of school, huh! Looking forward to it aren’t ya!
—Morning. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t remind me, actually.
Honestly, even now, just thinking about school made her melancholic. However, this was the one thing she couldn’t run away from. All the more since she already spent the last day avoiding it. Letting out another small sigh, Lilia slipped out of bed.
She opened the closet in the corner of the room. Five sets of the school regulation uniform were prepared there, all perfectly in Lilia’s size. From those, Lilia grabbed a set and nimbly changed into it. Then, giving the appearance of being in thought, she promptly stood in front of a mirror.
—Really… Is it fine just like this? What about make-up?
—If it’s you, then there’s no need. You’re already super cute just like that, you know? If anything, the heavy cosmetics you’ve used up until now just made things feel worse.
—Is… Is that so…
Lilia staggered all the way to the bed, before sitting down, perplexed. To Sakura, who had asked what was wrong,
—It’s nothing… Just that I’m a little wounded from that.
Perhaps not understanding, Sakura gave off a puzzled impression, and without saying anything, Lilia let out a heavy sigh.
Sakura’s advice that her make-up was no good actually came right as she arrived. When heading to the school, just in case, she had put on her usual make-up before getting on the carriage. Thus, the words Sakura had told her right when she was preparing to retire for the night stung her heart even now.
—Lilia. That make-up is unpleasant. It’s gross. It’d be better if you stopped doing it from tomorrow onwards.
Nobody at all had let her know before. That was why she had thought that it was fine like that. At some point, she had started to imitate her mother and put on make-up by herself, but had the people around her been thinking the same thing this whole time?
That said though, Sakura was still Sakura. It would have been great if she had let her know back at the estate. But for some reason or other, rather than doing that, why was she telling her right before she headed to bed the night before. It was like she was procrastinating until the last minute out of spite.
There was a knock on the door. Following that, Alisa revealed her face.
“Mistress Lilia, I’ve come with your breakfast. Have you finished your preparations?”
“Yes… I’m going now.”
When Alisa saw Lilia, who had exited from the room, her eyes went wide. When she tilted her head to the side at Arisa, who was staring fixedly at Lilia, Alisa flusteredly lowered her head.
“Please excuse me. Because that was somewhat unexpected…”
“What was?”
“I see that today you will be going without make-up.”
Lilia’s face froze over. She asked Alisa, who was tilting her head to the side.
“Alisa. I’d like you to answer truthfully here, but.”
“Yes?”
“The make-up I’ve always done until now… how was it?”
This time it was Alisa who froze over. She seemed to be trying to say something, but kept shutting her mouth every time she opened it to speak. With just that, Lilia could already guess at Alisa’s feelings. Whether to answer truthfully and abide by Lilia’s command or to try and save face for her master, she was certainly lost for a decision. However, the fact that she was having trouble responding already made the answer here quite clear.
“It is fine. Thank you.”
“Ah… Um, my deepest apologies.”
“I said it’s fine. Alisa, I wish to change. If there is anything, please properly let me know.”
Alisa replied with a ‘certainly’ and bowed. Nodding in satisfaction, Lilia went to the seat where breakfast was prepared.
This was something that she only heard afterward, but Lilia’s back looked terribly small.
Having finished with breakfast, Lilia left her room to head towards the school building and descended down the stairs. Perhaps not aware of Lilia’s return, every single student passing by showed great surprise at seeing her. Lilia showed everyone who met her eyes a smile.
Before, she would only scowl at anyone she saw. She was actually intending the same as usual today as well, but she was stopped by Sakura.
—Lilia. Get Along.
Since it couldn’t be helped, she followed Sakura’s instructions and plastered the forced smile that she was confident had improved drastically over this week. According to Sakura, it was a smile that still had a ways to go, but everyone on the receiving end had their faces redden, looking away.
—We should hurry to class. We might end up running into that girl.
—I dunno, I think it’s pointless though. From what I know of that girl and her personality… Well whatever. We’ll see when we go.
Lilia frowned dubiously at Sakura’s words. Then, she quickly came to understand the meaning of what was said.
“Mistress Lilia. It’s Mistress Tina.”
As soon as she descended to the first floor, Alisa, who was walking in front, informed her of this arrival. She raised her face with a ‘huh?’ Perhaps due to the early hour, the entrance was still mostly devoid of people. And so, she quickly noticed.
At one of the tables arranged at the entrance was Tina. On the table, three cups were prepared. Perhaps she was talking to someone, or rather… Overcome with the feeling of a dreadful premonition, she was seriously wondering if she should go back or not. However, she definitely couldn’t ignore her here, either. After all, Alisa was continuously staring as if expecting something.
—Your friend’s here.
—Ugh…!
It was as if Sakura’s words were completely voicing Alisa’s thoughts on her behalf. With no other choice, Lilia approached Tina and placed a hand on her shoulder.
Author’s Notes:
The servants’ make-up -> Beautiful person
No make-up -> Cute person
Her own make-up -> Who the hell are you!
After getting used to seeing “Her own make-up” the surrounding people have come to react to no make-up with ‘Who the hell are you’.
(TL note)
The author usually has some sort of note at the end of every chapter, but they’re usually just corrections or announcements. In fact this chapter had a correction note as well but I will only translate the interesting parts of these notes.
(TLCer note from the great Tokimaru)
Arisa is a cute name, would waifu, fuck da haters
Hey, it’s really been a while. Off of my hiatus, I’ll hopefully stop being such a dirty riajuu and lazy bum. Cheers, whoever is still here after all this time, thanks for your patience, and enjoy the chapter.
Lilia’s grades in magic could be described as above average, or rather less than great. They weren’t bad per se, but it was unfortunate that her target of comparison were her relatives. Lilia’s mother, Ascha, gave birth to countless new magics. As a matter of course, it seemed her grades at the academy were consistently at the top. With such a mother, Lilia was constantly being compared to her by others.
If it were Madam Ascha, she would quickly understand such a thing though.
If it were Madam Ascha, she could write a magic formation of this degree even without looking though.
If it were Madam Ascha. If it were Madam Ascha. If it were Mother.
Compared to her, Miss Lilianne is… Compared to her, I am…
“Mistress Lilia.”
At Alisa’s call, Lilia came back to her senses with a gasp. Alisa seemed worried as she peered over into her face.
“Are you alright? You are not feeling ill anywhere are…”
Lilia shook her head and gave a bitter smile.
“I’m alright. Alisa, will you teach me magic?”
Alisa blinked several times before happily nodding.
Sakura listened to Alisa’s lecture through Lilia. Lilia’s existing foundation in magic often came in handy. While listening, Sakura recalled a portion of the things she had heard before coming here. Things regarding magic.
The magic in this world was not omnipotent like those found in novels or games. What was known as magic here, was interacting with the spirits that made up a part of the world, contracting them, and making use of their powers through magic formations. For the spirits, attached to each and every magic were their specific conditions for lending out their power. Breaking even one of these requirements would render everything null, even if you had prepared the magic formation.
The idea of “Magical Power” was non-existent in this world, where ability was measured only by one’s talent for interacting with the spirits and the amount of knowledge one had in writing magic formations. This was the “magic” of the world.
Conversing with spirits and magic formation creation being the requirements, the skill of actually “using” magic was not needed. It was actually quite a simple thing in a certain sense.
“How nice…”
Sakura listened through Lilia to Alisa’s explanations. She listened, it seemed, with great interest and apparent envy.
“I wish I could try it out as well…”
What a wonderful thing it was, that having a magic formation prepared meant anyone could use it. In that case, without a doubt, even she herself would be able.
Alisa opened up some sort of book and proceeded to explain the magic formations contained within one by one. While Lilia seemed to simply be listening to the explanation, Sakura was staring intently at the formations as if to consume them, driving their entirety into her head.
“It would be great if I could use them one day.”
Those enthusiastic words, if one were able to see her face, were muttered through a penetratingly cold smile.
With the setting sun, the streets began to quiet down into slumber, and with this, Lilia finally closed the book before her. Alisa was sitting across from her and, despite being before her own master, had fallen prostrate, limply splayed out on the table. Lilia herself was without anger, simply giving a wry smile thinking it was unavoidable.
“Alisa. It’s about time, let’s get some dinner.”
“Yes… I will… go bring something from the dining hall…”
Getting up, she headed for the door with uneasy footsteps. Lilia watched her back with concern, silently sending her off until she finally made her exit. Glancing at the small clock placed on top of the table, she tilted her head, as if slightly taken aback by how early it still was.
“How pitiful, to be exhausted from just this much.”
—Ahaha. What a luxurious confusion of common sense. For a normal person, studying without rest for six hours straight would leave them exhausted for sure.
—Wait just a minute. It’s almost as if you’re saying that I’m not normal. Besides, in the first place, you were the cause of all this.
—Whatever could you be talking about?
At Sakura’s delighted voice, Lilia pressed her forehead as she sighed.
Lilia’s life back at the mansion would start with waking up early every day and, other than meals and baths, consisted solely of studying. At least twelve hours were dedicated to studying every day. At the start, Lilia was also completely exhausted by the end of the day, but she started to get used to it after three days, so now she had no trouble at all with this lifestyle.
—Well hey, you don’t exactly hate studying. That’s why you grew accustomed so quickly and could continue.
—I haven’t exactly expressed my dislikes in general though.
—…Now that you mention it, that is true.
Sakura whispered to herself wondering if this too was different from her previous knowledge, but for now, Lilia chose to pay it no heed.
A short while later, Alisa, accompanied by another person dressed in maid attire, brought in the meal. The maid was employed by the academy, so without any single master, she took care of all the residents living here. Naturally, she wasn’t alone in her work, and they weren’t employed by the residents, so students like Lilia couldn’t actually give them orders. At the very most, if they required the maids’ help, it would simply be more of a request.
“Mistress Lilia, thank you for waiting.”
Alisa set up the meal upon the table before Lilia. Displayed on the table was a meal resembling the menu of an Aldis family breakfast.
“What is this…”
“My deepest apologies, Mistress Aldis. Since it has become this time already, what could be prepared could only amount to this much.”
The woman lowered her head deeply. She remained in that position awaiting Lilia’s response, as if awaiting Lilia’s angry shout to erupt at any moment. And thus, with wrinkles gathering between her brows and about to shout as if it were the natural thing to do,
—Lilia.
With Sakura’s voice, she calmed down.
—There, deep breaths.
With Sakura’s urging, she slowly took in a breath, and let it out. Once again bringing her gaze to the woman, she met the eyes of the confused maid.
“Mistress Aldis?”
Perhaps unable to comprehend the silent Lilia, the woman stared at her with doubt in her eyes. Lilia steadily returned her gaze and spoke.
“Don’t mind it. It is unreasonable of me to request dinner at a time like this.”
The woman’s eyes went wide, and Alisa was smiling widely. Lowering her head again, the woman departed from the room.
—Is this okay for you?
—That was perfect! As expected of Lilia, seems like I’ll fall for you!
—Eh, no way.
—Hey hey, don’t reject my joke so seriously, that hurts…
At Sakura’s weeping reply, the corners of Lilia’s mouth raised just a tad bit.
“Well then let us dig in. You should take a seat over there, Alisa.”
“There as in… Facing you, is it? Is it really alright?”
“I am saying that is it alright.”
“Yes. Excuse me.”
Alisa seemed happy from top to bottom. While thinking it somewhat strange, she simply reached out her hands to begin her late dinner.
How long had I been out?
There’s no way to tell.
I lost all sense of time in that void.
More importantly though, where am I?
There was definitely nothing like this in that place.
Especially this cold.
Temperature wasn’t a concept there.
Everything just … was.
This is also strange.
It feels like I’m in pain, but that shouldn’t be possible.
Although I hate to admit it, I have long since acknowledged that I didn’t have a body to feel pain with anymore.
Wait …
I … I remember what pain is?
No, that’s not it.
I-I remember everything.
Actually, that’s not entirely true either.
I can’t remember anything about myself.
Why can I remember things like ice cream when I can’t remember anything about who I am?
Was I a man or a woman?
I can’t remember.
Even my name is gone.
Is this what that old man was talking about?
To think I had thought he was just a mere shape.
How depressing.
No, I need to focus.
I can’t dwell on the past.
I should just be happy with my current situation.
So what if I can’t remember anything about myself?
From what that system was saying, this place is likely different from the one in my memories.
In that case, it’s not like knowing who I was will do me any good.
No.
In this place I’ll start over.
I’ll create new memories.
First thing’s first though.
I need to get a grasp on my surroundings.
I’m fairly cold, but I don’t think it isn’t manageable.
In addition to that, the blinding light that forced me to close my eyes has to be the sun reflecting off of something.
Because of the cold, I can only picture snow though.
If I think about it, it seems I’m outside in a place that may be going through a winter.
Before I had to close my eyes, I did manage to see some tree like things though.
Perhaps a forest of some kind?
I’ll have to let my eyes adjust before I can really make any judgments though.
Seeing as that’s the case, the priority now is confirming my own status.
To start with, I try moving, but this body hardly responds to me.
It also doesn’t seem to have very much strength.
A baby then?
If so, then besides the issue with my lack of mobility, it’s not an unfavorable situation.
I had wanted a fresh start anyway.
Anyway, I try investigating the rest of my body, but for some reason I can’t feel much of it.
Is this what it’s like to be a baby?
Fumu, it seems I’ll have to wait until I’m able to actually see my own body.
At the very least, I’m not in pain anymore.
I should be safe in assuming that my body isn’t injured.
How cruel would it be if I di…
《Status confirmed: Deceased》
《[Unknown] executing》
《Probability of success: 100%》
《Revival process initiated》
《Body restructure complete》
《Every basic ability has risen》
《[Cold Resistance Lv1] has been acquired》
《[Improved Vision Lv1] has been acquired》
《Completing revival process》
《Error: Unknown interference detected》
《Probability of failure: 90%》
《Error: Process failure detected》
《Loss of 10% sanity has been predicted》
《Warning: Due to interference an additional 4% sanity has been lost》
《Sanity: 86%》
《Warning: Sanity below 90% will cause unintended side-effects》
《Attempting to repair》
《Repairing failed》
《No new loss of sanity detected》
《Attempting to complete the revival process》
《Process complete》
《Rebooting》
..ed this early?
…
I feel like something ironic just happened.
Well, I suppose it’s fine.
This splitting headache isn’t doing me any good though.
How did such a painful thing suddenly appear without me noticing?
Agh!
Haha, just kidding.
It’s not actually all that painful, you know?
Or wait … is it?
I-I don’t really know.
That’s weird.
Why does it feel like I no longer know myself?
Well, troubling things are troublesome so I won’t think about it anymore.
Still, I wonder what happened.
I was feeling a bit cold before this headache appeared, but now I don’t feel cold at all.
Ah, and now that I think about it, my eyes are open as well.
It hasn’t been long enough for my eyes to adjust though.
Is this also because of the headache?
Maa, haven’t I already decided not to worry about troublesome things?
Let’s see, now that I’m able to keep my eyes open, is there anything else that’s interesting around?
I move my head around to look, but only trees and snow are there to greet me.
At the very least, I can be happy that I was right about this being some kind of forest.
Still can’t say for sure if it’s winter or not though.
Could just be somewhere cold.
Ah!
Right before I turned away I saw something different!
It wasn’t a tree, but I have no idea what it could have been.
It was blue though.
Could it have been a whale?
Eh~, probably not.
U-unless whales are land creatures in this world!?
Ah, I doubt it.
That would be kind-of dumb.
Regardless, how do I go about getting its attention?
Resolving myself, I try calling out to it.
“Unya~!”
As you can see though, that was the result…
I forgot.
I’m just a baby.
My only means of communication is baby talk.
Mou~, how am I supposed to communicate with people if I can’t even speak properly!
Ignoring the me who is having a crisis, something moves in the bushes nearby.
Eh, could it be?
Did the whale (temp) hear my cry?
Mn, this is good.
Even if the whale isn’t a whale it might still be something that can help me.
I don’t remember any dangerous blue things anyway.
“Gugya!”
I hear it’s voice before I see it.
It emerges a second later though.
…
Was I an evil person in my past life or something?
No, wait.
Isn’t this the typical first encounter?
Although I forgot this is another world, it’s true that it is one.
In that case, this kind of situation is the standard, right?
Mn, for sure.
Usually this kind of thing occurs after the main character has grown up though.
Ah, yes.
It wasn’t a whale.
Goblin A has made his first appearance!
Nothing.
There’s nothing here.
No matter the direction I look, there’s nothing to be seen.
Only a murky darkness.
I can’t even recall how long I’ve been here.
Better yet, I can’t even remember what I was doing before I ended up here.
Maybe … maybe I’ve always been here.
That’d be an interesting thought, but I do still have vague feelings that there’s something more than just nothing.
I may not be able to remember any of it, but I can still feel it.
Instinct … I think it was called.
Regardless, none of this helps me right now.
The important thing is trying to find some change in this void.
Change, even if it’s for the worse, is still something better than this boredom.
I can’t entertain myself with nothing.
As if in response to my complaints, a change occurs.
“Oh?
There was still someone here?”
Well, I say it was a change, but it’s not like there’s an actual voice.
To have reached the point where I’ve finally started hearing voices… looks like giving up is the only option I have left.
For my mind to have lasted this long though, I can only praise its efforts wholeheartedly.
“Oi, has anyone ever told you it’s rude to ignore people?”
Hm, this other voice I’ve invented seems to have a will of its own.
How strange.
Wouldn’t I normally be the one controlling both sides?
Isn’t that how this kind of role-play works?
Well, it’s not like there could actually be another existence here with me.
“You know, I was going to let your attitude slide because I was in a good mood, but now it’s starting to annoy me.”
Oh no, the voice is starting to get mad.
Haha, I’d probably be scared if this wasn’t all a figment of my imagination though.
Now, let me see what you’re going to do, voice.
Disregarding the me who has finally learned to entertain myself, the voice doesn’t respond.
Instead, as if responding to my provocations, the void begins to change.
I remember hearing once that even a snowflake can become an avalanche eventually.
It seems like that’s what I’m witnessing as all of these tiny pinpricks of light gather and merge.
Well, those lights aren’t actually snowflakes though.
Ah, now that I think about it, how do I know what snowflakes are?
Is it related to those lights?
Ignoring me, the lights endlessly gather and eventually there’s no longer nothing.
Now, there’s a shape before me.
My memory may have improved a little, but honestly, I can still only remember what snowflakes are.
“Hm?
Ah, now that I’m able to get a good look at you it seems you’re in a bit of a dangerous situation.”
Interrupting my thoughts, the shape insults me.
I’ll have you know that I’m perfectly fine!
Though … it’s not like I can actually say that out loud.
“Let’s see.
This should help for a while at least, but we really need to get you out of here quickly.”
This time, I wasn’t really paying attention to what it was saying, but the shape seemed to do something to me.
I feel another change, but this one feels like it’s coming from within myself.
It’s strange, but not unpleasant.
“Ah, much better.
However, I still need to get you somewhere a bit more stable.
《Begin System》”
《System in process of rebooting》
《Expected time of completion: Whenever really》
“Gah, I forgot you were like this.
Hurry up and reboot, this kid’s life is in danger.”
《…》
《Expected time of completion: A few seconds at worst》
“Mn, thanks.”
《System reboot complete》
“Alright kid, my job is finished.
I leave the rest of it up to you.”
Huh?
Why are you pushing this all on me?
I don’t even know what’s going on!
《Greetings》
《In a few moments you will be asked to choose your new fate》
《It is recommended to hurry as you don’t have much time left in this place》
Eh?
What do you mean?
I’ve been here for a long time now, how can my time here be almost up?
《I suppose there is just enough time enough to answer your question》
《In the simplest of terms, your soul is in a poor state》
《Being completely honest, it’s amazing that you’ve managed to last this long》
Eh, my soul?
I wonder how it compares to a snowflake.
Doesn’t sound all that exciting though.
Not like snowflakes at least.
《Ahem, moving on》
《I will present you with a few options》
《Please select the one you prefer》
《 ? 》
《 ? 》
《 ? 》
《Ah, I forgot to mention that these choices are random》
《Fufu, my sincerest apologies》
Hm, I don’t really believe this other voice is that sincere, but I’m not entirely sure.
Regardless, if it’s random, then it all comes down to luck.
In that case, I’ll choose the middle one!
《Your choice has been confirmed》
《Congratulations, you have been granted [ ]》
Um, voice?
There’s nothing though?
《Oh my, really?》
《I suppose your gift will have to be a surprise then》
《Look forward to the day you’re able to discover it》
T-this voice isn’t very kind it seems.
Either way, it seems I’ll have to rely on myself for whatever will happen next.
I can’t count on whatever it was that I had been given.
《Now then, because I answered your question, we’re a bit short on time, and I am unable to offer you any other choices》
《Meaning, I have decided the settings for you》
《I do hope you enjoy your new life》
Oh, well thank you, System.
Actually, now that I think about it, maybe System isn’t so bad after all?
Hah!
As if I would be deceived so easily.
System must have chosen the worst settings possible.
Well, I’ll show you, System.
I will survive your test, and then I’ll come back here to prove that I was able to beat your expectations.
Just you wait.
《Fufu, I look forward to that day》
《Farewell》
While unable to fully read those few words, my world once again became darkness.
I wonder what will happen from now on…
So, I imagine quite a few of you have questions, but the important thing is the reason I’m rewriting this story.
While writing the original story, I did not actually have a decent plan down.
I was writing as I went, and as I went on I found out that such a style of writing is something I can’t do.
A plan was necessary so that I didn’t end up with needless chapters.
Hopefully this update will improve the story, and we’ll all enjoy it even more than the original.
Thank you for sticking with me this long.
お兄ちゃん、やめてぇ！ 